Phil celebrates his 64th birthday with his wife Sue at their fourth Buffett concert Photo: KSTP

Homage to St. Paul while Buffett sings Photo: KSTP

Buffett shows off his custom-made Wild jersey

As Minnesota made weather headlines across the country yesterday, the Xcel Energy Center transformed into an island paradise with palm trees, beach chairs, and a tiki bar where Parrotheads of all ages gathered to party before Jimmy Buffett's Songs From St. Somewhere concert.

Mayor Coleman of Saint Paul officially renamed the city “Margaritaville” for the day.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band are winding down the Songs From St. Somewhere Tour, promoting Buffett's 27th album.

"This is as far north as St. Somewhere goes this year," a very tan, barefoot, Bermuda shorts wearing Buffett told fans. "We're gonna take you on some old stops, new stops, and everywhere in between."

He kept his word, playing everything from "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere," "Cheeseburger In Paradise," to the crowd favorite, "Fins."

During "Back Where I Come From"-- written by Mac McAnally (singer-songwriter, record producer, musician), video clips filled with Minnesota landmarks, team photos of the Gophers, Vikings, Wild, and Lynx got the crowd fired up.

"Since I'm in Minne-SOTA, I have to credit Bob Dylan."

Buffett ended his encore with "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Girl from the North Country."

Songs from St. Somewhere, is a bit of country mixed with sounds of the islands -- steel drums, ukuleles, the melodica, and bongos. There's even a little Spanish flare.

The first single, is his duet with Toby Keith, "Too Drunk to Karaoke."

"You have to live these songs in order to write them," Buffett said.

Buffett has life figured out.

A colorful video montage is set up behind the band and during every song it takes you to one amazing part of the world after the next. Sometimes you're along for a ride on Buffett's sailboat or his private plane flying even further south where it's warmer but the party never stops.

You get completely lost in the photos, lyrics, and laid back fiesta.

"I just have to thank you all for this summer job that's lasted quite a while," Buffett told a packed arena.

Fan reaction:
I spotted a little girl wearing a Parrothead cap and a grass skirt in the crowd as her dad held up a sign that said, "Jimmy its my 9th Birthday, Please Play Little Miss Magic."

Brian and Kate Kopp drove up on a school night from Rochester, Minnesota to celebrate.

What did you think of the show tonight?
"It was awesome. I really like his music, especially Fins," Kate said.

What makes you a Buffet fan?
"I've grown up with his music, it's been a part of my life, the highs, the lows, everything. He's spectacular. He's a great story teller and song writer," Brian said who by the way was wearing a coconut bra and a grass skirt (see photo).

Brian also told me he and Kate met Buffett in Hawaii at a surf museum. She was wearing the autographed t-shirt and was all smiles.

Phil and Sue Ethier of St. Paul were celebrating Phil's 64th birthday.

"We saw him when we were in Las Vegas two years ago for a car convention and decided to skip the banquet to see Jimmy at the MGM instead," Phil said.

"My favorite part of the night, well any time Robert Greenidge plays the steel drums I'm happy," Phil said. "I also really liked the arrangement of Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl."

Buffett and the Coral Reef Band left snowy Minnesota and head to Tulsa, Little Rock and end the tour in Honolulu where he will celebrate his 67th birthday.

Before leaving the stage, Buffett introduced fans to his wardrobe stylist and Minneapolis native, Helen Hiatt. He came out wearing a custom-made Hawaiian print Wild jersey the X gifted him (see photo), created by Tom's Tailor on Grand Ave.